2 Samuel 8 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

David Wins Many Wars

8 Later David defeated the Philistines and took control of a large area of land around Gath.[a] 2 He also defeated the Moabites. He forced them to lie on the ground in a long row. Using a rope to measure, those within two lengths of the rope were killed and those within every third length were allowed to live. So the Moabites became servants of David and paid tribute to him.

3 David went to an area near the Euphrates to set up a monument for himself.[b] At that time he defeated the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob. 4 David took 1000 chariots, 7000 horse soldiers,[c] and 20,000 foot soldiers from Hadadezer. He crippled all but 100 of the chariot horses.[d]

5 Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David defeated those 22,000 Arameans. 6 Then David put his soldiers in Damascus, Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

7 David took the gold shields[e] that had belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah[f] and Berothai. (Tebah and Berothai were cities that had belonged to Hadadezer.)

9 King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s whole army. 10 Hadadezer had fought against Toi in the past, so Toi sent his son Joram to King David. Joram greeted him and blessed him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Joram brought gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 David took these things and dedicated them to the Lord, as he had done with all the other things he had taken from the nations he had defeated: 12 Aram, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. He had also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 David had defeated 18,000 Edomites[g] in Salt Valley. He was famous when he came home. 14 He put teams of soldiers throughout Edom, and the whole nation became his servants. The Lord gave victory to him wherever he went.

David’s Rule

15 David ruled over all Israel, and he made good and fair decisions for all of his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was the captain over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the historian. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was secretary. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites,[h] and David’s sons were priests.[i]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:1 area of land around Gath Or “villages controlled by the mother city” or “Metheg-Ammah.” See 1 Chron. 18:1.
  2. 2 Samuel 8:3 David went … for himself Or “David went to take control of the area near the Euphrates River.”
  3. 2 Samuel 8:4 David … soldiers This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “1700 horse soldiers.”
  4. 2 Samuel 8:4 He crippled … horses Or “He destroyed all but 100 chariots.”
  5. 2 Samuel 8:7 shields Or “bow cases.”
  6. 2 Samuel 8:8 Tebah This is found in some ancient Greek copies. The standard Hebrew text has “Betah.” See 1 Chron. 18:8.
  7. 2 Samuel 8:13 Edomites This is found in the ancient Greek and Syriac versions and a few Hebrew copies. The standard Hebrew text has “Arameans.”
  8. 2 Samuel 8:18 Kerethites and Pelethites These were David’s special bodyguards. An ancient Aramaic version has “the archers and stone throwers.” This would mean these men were specially trained in using bows and arrows and slings.
  9. 2 Samuel 8:18 priests Or “important leaders.”

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2 Samuel 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 And it cometh to pass afterwards that David smiteth the Philistines, and humbleth them, and David taketh the bridle of the metropolis out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smiteth Moab, and measureth them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measureth two lines to put ...
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2 Samuel 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 And it was done after these things, David smote the Philistines, and made low them; and David took away the bridle of tribute from the hand of Philistines. (And it was done after these things, that David struck the Philistines, and made them low, or conquered them; and David took away Methegammah ...
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2 Samuel 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to kee...
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2 Samuel 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

8 Sometime later, David won a great victory over the Philistines, gaining superiority over them at Metheg-ammah. 2 He also defeated the army of Moab; and making the captured lie down, he determined that ⅔ of them would be put to death while ⅓ would be allowed to live. As a result, the Moabites beca...
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2 Samuel 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David’s Kingdom Expands8 Now afterward David attacked the Philistines and subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah[a] from the hand of the Philistines. 2 He also defeated Moab. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them with a cord. Every two measures of them were put to death, and the third ...
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2 Samuel 8 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David’s Wars8 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Meth′eg-am′mah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spa...
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2 Samuel 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David’s Wars8 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Meth′eg-am′mah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spa...
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2 Samuel 8 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David’s Wars8 Some time afterwards, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were ...
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2 Samuel 8 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David’s Wars8 Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.2 He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were to...
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2 Samuel 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David’s Military Victories8 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.[a] 2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two gro...
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2 Samuel 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

David Wins Other Battles8 After this David won the battle against the Philistines. And he took the most important city from the Philistines. 2 He won the battle against Moab, and had them lie down on the ground in straight groups. Two groups were put to death, and one group was kept alive. The Moab...
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2 Samuel 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David’s Further Conquests(A)8 After this it came to pass that David [a]attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took [b]Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then (B)he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured...
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2 Samuel 8 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David’s victories8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were...
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2 Samuel 8 - New International Version (NIV)

David’s Victories(A)8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines(B) and subdued(C) them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites.(D) He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths ...
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2 Samuel 8 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Wins Many Battles8 While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Metheg Ammah away from them. 2 David also won the battle over the people of Moab. He made them lie down on the ground. Then he measured them off with a piece ...
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2 Samuel 8 - New English Translation (NET)

David Subjugates Nearby Nations8 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah[a] from the Philistines.[b] 2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other th...
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